Big Loop Horsemanship

01/07/2026

Some horses come once in a lifetime. Diosa🖤 is one of them and she’s mine.

She is a Devil’s Garden mare unlike any horse I have ever seen.

She was my top choice when I was selected to compete in Mustang Mania. I never thought I would get her though!! When I won the draw I was stunned. I never win anything. The moment I saw her I knew this mare was something else.

On our second ride in Wyoming I misjudged the ground. Beneath the dirt and pine needles the earth was still frozen. She slipped and went down, and I knew right then I needed a warmer climate. That day changed everything.

I put the house up for sale immediately. It sold very fast, all before our 100-day competition window was even over. I left behind a life I loved, a community I valued, and a successful electrical business. At that moment, the possibility of failure hit me. I knew this could all go wrong.

Being forced out of the competition track ended up being a blessing. Without the rush of the 100-day program I was able to slow down and focus on what really matters: giving Diosa the proper training to become a true Californio Bridle horse. Every ride, every lesson, every moment on the ground or in the saddle is about depth, refinement, and presence that lasts.

We are close to 2.5k followers. I never dreamed that could happen this fast. I owe a huge thank you to everyone who follows, contributes, and shares. You may not know it, but those small gestures are changing my life and my family’s life.

Even now, every time I think about giving up and going back to electrical, something pulls me forward. That drive keeps me moving and reminds me why this matters. Mustangs need help and Californio horsemanship needs to be amplified.

2026 is the Year of the Horse
And this year belongs to Diosa 🖤🐎

01/04/2026

The artist behind this piece is my good friend Cory Bretz. I have known him since he was a kid, always drawing, always creating. Seeing that early talent grow into work like this is powerful.

This tattoo is a tribute to Norco, California. Not just Horse Town USA, but home. It is where my wife grew up, where we met, and where our roots as a family began. Cory did not just tattoo a horse. He captured a place, a culture, and a way of life. The realism, movement, and detail in this piece demand a second look.

This is not just a tattoo. It is home, history, and respect put into skin. If you’re in the market for a meaningful tattoo, reach out to Cory!

01/04/2026

✨ Today was a special day at the ranch ✨

A family dropped off a horse that’s going to be a joy to train. I worked her in front of the family, just like I do with all new clients at drop-off, and their little girl was watching closely the whole time.

When she got home, she tied a rope to her stuffed unicorn… and practiced roping like a pro! 🦄💫

It is the cutest thing ever, receiving this message reminded me how magical horsemanship can be.. sometimes the lessons start at home with imagination and play.

Can’t wait to introduce this very special horse to everyone tomorrow. You’re going to love her. 🐴❤️

01/03/2026

Gentle Strength

Being gentle is not weakness. It is not soft. It is not force or gimmicks. It is the quiet power to lead with restraint, to request thought before action, and to shape the horse’s mind before its body.

Gentle strength is finesse over force. It is patience, precision, and method. A thinking horse is the goal, not compliance, not showmanship.

Traditional Californio horsemanship taught me this. Progression over pressure. Time over speed. Clarity over noise. True horsemanship is measured in soundness, willingness, and longevity, not quick wins.

Mustangs taught me this. They do not tolerate shortcuts or sloppy leadership. They demand self-discipline, observation, and accountability. They changed me and my family more than I could ever explain.

This is exactly what I bring to every horse I train and every rider I work with. From foundation work to advanced horsemanship, my goal is the same. Develop horses and riders that are capable, confident, and built to last. I also craft custom tack designed to support this style of work, functional, durable, and rooted in tradition.

💬 If you want a horse that thinks, to become a rider that understands, and create a partnership that lasts, what would that approach look like for you? Comment below or send me a message. I work with horses and riders who are ready to take the next step.

01/02/2026

There is something about traditional tack that feels older than the hands building it. Like you are touching a memory, not just a piece of gear.

This horsehair cinch is nearly finished. Just a few final tucks remain before I begin a matching breast collar. Every strand has been placed with intention, the same way it would have been generations ago.

I was given complete creative freedom on this piece with one simple request: make something beautiful. When the customer called it “functional art,” it stopped me cold. It told me the work carried meaning beyond utility, and that is what every maker hopes for.

This is traditional craft. Slow, deliberate, learned through doing. Skills passed hand to hand, not shelf to shelf, and only kept alive when someone chooses to care enough to practice them.

Custom tack is expensive. There is no getting around that. But just as the vaqueros once carried their wealth on their steeds to honor them and to reflect nobility, I believe the horse deserves that same respect today. Tack should not only turn heads, it should carry a presence of its own, worthy of the animal wearing it.

I build this way because it matters to me. Because the horse carries us, teaches us, and gives more than it ever asks in return. Honoring that relationship is reason enough.

That is why I spend my time and money making sure my horses always look their best, even when I do not.

If this speaks to you, share it. These traditions only survive if we keep them alive together.

What piece of tack or gear in your life carries a story or meaning that goes beyond its function?

12/28/2025

I really like this idea. A pre purchase assessment by a trainer gives buyers a clearer picture of what a horse actually is, not just what it looks like on paper or in a short ride. This service can save a lot of heartache and help match horses with the riders who suit them best. I plan to start offering this and hope more trainers bring this approach to the horse world.

As we be continue to work on Short Courses, time frames, and costs, we’ve stumbled upon something that might be great!

Offering a pre purchase exam…done by trainers!! We’re all getting pretty accustomed to taking a potential new buy to the vet but what about taking it to our trainer?

I understand this idea isn’t completely new but we’re thinking it could be better parameterized! I’m not after a pass-fail type exam. More of running a horse through things like groundwork, obstacles, trailer loading, tying, ridden maneuvers in the arena, ridden trail, mounting block, spraying off, overall relaxation, overall training level, etc.

And then grading them in a report card. This is actually something I want to add to all of the Short Courses. A report card that goes from A+ all the way down to F. Because let’s be real, horses have areas they excel, areas they pass and areas they’re still failing. They are very similar to children and it’s our responsibility to help find a job that suits them and their natural disposition.

With a trainer pre purchase exam it’s an added step to help ensure you’re buying the right horse for you.

So here’s why I bring it up, to get y’all’s input!
1. Is it a good idea?
2. How long should it be?
3. How much should it cost?
4. Should we add a travel option?

If you want to answer one or all of the questions above or just add any input that would be great!

My gut feeling is 90 minutes (give or take) for $200. You can obviously be present and interactive (riding/handling the horse as well), it will come with a written (but simple) report, and be tailored to what you want to know most about the horse. This is not a training session, it is a horse assessment.

An option to travel would probably be $300 if it’s within 25 miles of where I live. One thing I really like about offering something like this is if someone from out of state wants to buy a horse they can pay a trainer to assess it first. It’s a lot of time and effort to travel to try horses. For many people it would be worth it to have someone else give a 3rd party perspective on what the horse is.

I also thought a video option might be good and wayyy cheaper! I can tell a lot about a horse from there sale video or basic riding videos. Something like this would be more in the $30-$50 range.

I’m hoping this might become more of a common offered thing in the horse industry so we can help folks buy the right horse! So if you are a trainer and want to “steal” this idea, do it!! 🤓 We’ve all seen a lot of posts online about horse deals that never should have happened. 🫣 It will never be a perfect science but having a trained professional in your corner can sure help!

12/28/2025

Seeing this breaks our hearts.

When you open your place to horses, clients, and community, you’re operating on trust. And when that trust is violated, it cuts deep.

Because of our own background, we’ve always been mindful of security. We’ve built our place around constant presence and awareness. Someone is always here. It’s simply part of how we care for the horses and the property.

Being cautious about access isn’t about distrust. It’s about protecting what’s been entrusted to us.

Conner and Camille, we’re thinking of you and praying every piece of stolen tack finds its way home.

Please share this. More eyes mean better odds of recovery and accountability.

12/26/2025

Quick Primo update 🌱

After a rough detour and a lot of effort to bring him back home, Primo finally landed where he was always meant to be. A few weeks ago he moved into his real forever home, and we could not be happier with how he is doing.

He is settled, thriving, and paired with an owner who truly appreciates him. The match is right, the timing is right, and Primo is exactly where he belongs.

Thank you to everyone who cared about this horse and followed his journey.

Swipe to see Primo living his best life in green pasture, plus a few words from his owner.

12/22/2025

Zephyr is going for his first trail ride today! At least that’s the plan, we will see how the arena ride goes.

We have we quiet lately and even missed a couple of weeks of Californio chronicles..

After the family got sick I decided to take a break until after the holidays. It’s been a nice break but we’ll be getting back to it a little this week and even more next. I’ll be picking up the chronicles next Sunday again. Thanks for your patience!